The OZ books were early favorites of mine, beginning in the third grade. The library at Roosevelt Elementary had most of them and several of my friends had more. I eventually acquired a near complete set, some of which have antique status now. Recently I embarked on a return to Oz, partly from nostalgia and partly from a quest to find the scene in which there is a sea of soup. I think I even remember the illustration. But I was unable to find this bit, though I read (or skimmed, after the first three or four books, they grow a bit repetitive) all the books by Baum. (There are more by other authors -- Thompson and Snow -- but I haven't gotten to them.)
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I want to alert you to the Dangers of Oz. In my internet search for the sea of soup, I came across a page on THIS WEBSITE which links the Oz books to the Illuminati (you know, that shadowy conspiracy that is plotting to establish a New World Order.) Anyway, I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to discover that, according to this conspiracy theorist, the Oz books are full of satanic activity and thinking. Baum was trying to say that 'we must rely on ourselves, that we alone have the power to save ourselves' -- just as Dorothy didn't need the Wizard to get back to Kansas but could use the magic slippers she'd had all along. Sounds good to me -- but not to the creator of this document. He calls this self reliance 'part of the original lie of Satan . . . dressed up in different packaging and (distributed) worldwide as the most popular American fairy tale.' The theorist goes to great lengths to draw links between Oz and Satanism. He provides a wealth of goodies, such as the damning fact that it was a cyclone that brought Dorothy to Oz and the word cyclone comes from the Greek word meaning snake. Ergo, a snake (Satan) took Dorothy to Oz. Another telling point is that the Wizard represents himself as being connected to the royal families of Europe and (apparently) everyone knows that the royal families of Europe are all 'secret Satanists, from powerful occult bloodlines.' There's more, oh, so much more. Dorothy goes on a quest. New Agers and Satanists go on quests. (See how easy this is?) The Emerald City is green. Seems innocent enough but wait! Green is the fourth point of the Eastern Star (Women's Freemasonry -- and Freemasonry is tied to the Illuminati.) Green is also Satan's color. Did you know that? Neither did I but this guy at American Patriot Friends Network does.) Wait a second -- it's becoming clear. Jade Helm. Jade is green. No wonder those patriots in Texas have their panties in a wad. The depth and breadth of crazy out there is really astounding.